Journal of Hezekiah Starbuck, 1770-1775

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This is the journal of Nantucket whaler Hezekiah Starbuck (1749-1830), a member of the prominent Starbuck whaling family. The journal spans the early 1770s, beginning in April 1770 and ending in 1775. The journal PDF is sourced from the Ships' Logs Collection of the Nantucket Historical Association, MS220 Log 406, listed as "Logs of the schooner Sea Flower and sloop Africa."

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A jornal of our Voyge towards ye Straits of St Davids in the Good Schooner Sea Flower Berzillar Folger Camander Bound on A whale Cruse And with Gods Permision Intermixed with our one indever to Returne Safe home to our frinds A Gain with Good Sucsees

April ye 17th In ye year of our Lord 1770 We weighed Anchor And Set Sail In Nantucket harber And went to Sea In Company with Gilbert Folger Jonathan Cartright And Sundry other Vessels with the wind at W S W And So hovld to N W And North with Some Rain And foog So Eands the Day with No Land in Sight which makes us feel Quite Lonsom

Wednesday April ye 18th the fore Part of this 24 hours we had A Small Breas at N N E till 10 of Clock then had fresh winds as Predicto we Run to ye S S W till 12 of Clock then handed our Mainsail & Gibb & Laid under our trisail the Later Part of the Day Still fresh winds at Noth But Clear weather at 8 of Clock Lot our foresail & stasail & Run to ye west ward in Company with Gilbert Folger at [M?] had an observe & found our Selvs in ye Latts of 39d. 50N. N So I Concluded this Days Remarks & am Prete well But the Biger Part of our Crue is Sea Sick

Thursday April ye 19th the first Part of this 24 hours we had fresh wind at North & so [horld] to N W & Clear at 4 of Clock Spok with A Sloop from the west Ingies with 50 lbs & he told us of Divers of our west Ingies whale men ye Later Part of ye 24 hours ye wind at west & fresh [S W?] Plente of Porpesses So I Conclude this 24 hours

Last edit 3 months ago by Carolebar
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Friday April ye 20th in the year 1770

the fore Part of this 24 hours was Attended with fresh winds But Clear weather Saw Plente of Porpposes ye Later Part of the ye 24 hours we had Small wind and fine weather made Sail & Stood off to ye South ward Spook with A Brigenteen from Pool Bround to New york he Gave us some News Papers So Eands with fine weather and Now whales

Saterday April ye 21th

the first Part of this 24 hours was Attended with fine weather and Small winds at N E Saw Nothing ye Later Part of ye Day Still fine weather Saw Nothing So I Conclude this Days work

Sunday April ye 22th the fore Going Part of ye 24 hours we had fresh winds at wSw but A Smooth Sea Saw Plente of finfish & Sulphr Botoms at 7 of Clock hove two under our trifoil ye Later Part of ye 24 hours was Attended with A Rugged Sea & the wind at wSw & thick of foog at this time we Imply our Selvs in Raseing our Goose Neck & at [...] , Saw A Scooner Bound to ye N N E But Did Not Speek with her So I Conclude this Days Remarks Still in [Conpa?] with Gilbert Folger

Munday April ye 23th, the first Part of this 24 hours was Attended with Small Breasses at west and Some foog Laid two Saw Nothing ye Later Part of ye 24 hours had small winds and Variable at 6 of Clock Made Sail & Stood to ye East ward & at 10 of Clock Gibed and Stood to ye S E with ye wind at Sw Saw some Porposses So Eands this Days Remarks in good helth at Present.

Last edit 4 months ago by Gloriana19
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Tusday April ye 24th this 24 hours we had thick weather ye fore Part Small winds at S w Run to ye E S E till 6 of Clock then handed our Sails & Laid two with her head to ye Southward & Later Part of ye 24 hours at 6 of Clock ye wind Shifted to N W & Some Rain Set our Stasail & Laid About & Run to ye E N E Saw Nothing at mid. had an observe & was in ye Latt. of 38..50 N

Wednesday April ye 25 In ye fore Part of this 24 hours we had fresh winds at N N W till 6 of the Clock then it Dyed And hoved to ye Northward so we hovld Down our Staisail & Laid By Got one Porpes ye Latter Part of tye 24 at 6 of CLock made sail had ye wind at North Saw Plente of Spamasities & Cast them but Could Not harpoon Any of them So Eands this Days Remarks in Good helth

Thirsday April ye 25 Small winds & fine weather till 6 of CLock & Saw Plente of findfish & Sulpherbotoms then ye wind Breasd at N N W we hove two under A trifoil two Reefs foresail & stsail to ye westward & at 12 of Clock Laid A Bout to ye East or N E ye Later Part of ye 24 hours, at 6 of CLock made Sail had ye wind at N N W & fresh till 10 Before Mrd then yt Dyed to A Small Breas Saw Plente of finfish & Porposses, we Run to ye South ward & at Mid. had an observe & was in ye Latt. of 39. 10 No

Friday April ye 27 th ye forePart of this 24 hours Attended with Small winds at N W & Calms Run to ye S S W Saw Plente of finfish & Porposses ye Later Part of ye 24 h had fine weather & Calm at 6 of Clock Saw Plente of finfish And Chast them But Could Not Strik & at 10 of Clock ye wind Breasd at South So we made Sail & Stood to ye Eastward at Mid. had an observe & found our Selvs in ye Latt. of 38.23 North & I Judg Nantucket to [Bade?] N [...] W So Eands this 24 hours with Nothing more Remarkabl

Last edit 4 months ago by vant
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Saterday April ye 28th this 24 hours ye fore Part of it Small Breasses at South & So hoild to SE & Breasd we Saw A Sloop at A Great Distans to ye westward of us So we went About & Stood to ye westward & at 3 of Clock Spook with her & She Proud to Be A Sloop from tanareef Bound to New york & Belong their he told us that he had Been Drove off twise & had Been from Said Part 52 Days & further he told us that he was Scant of Perrision or meat Cind So we Let him have some Small matter of Perrision & So Partd with him & Stoof to ye Eastward ye Later Part of ye 24 hours we had fresh winds & rany weather Laid under our trisail & at 8 of Clock ye wind Shifted to ye sWs So we Run to ye No[rth], ward under trisail & Staisail So Eands ye 24 hours with No observe But Some Porpesses in Sight

Sunday April ye 29th ye fore Part of ye 24 hours Attended with fresh winds at wSw & foog Saw Plente of Porpesses Got 2 of them, we Run to ye Northward under trysail & Stausail will 6 of Cloc[k] then hove two ye Later Part had Small winds at west & So horld to NW Run to ye Northward Saw Some Porpesses at on, [and?] had An Observe & found ourselvs in ye Latt of 39 40 No So I Conclude this Days work in Company with Capt Folger & all well

Monday April ye 30th the fore Part of this 24 hours Attended with Small Breasses at WBN & fine weather Stood to Northward Saw Some Porpesses & at 6 of Clock hand ye mainsail & Gibb & Sot ye trisail ye Later Part of ye 24 hours Laid to ye No ward at 9 of Clock Sounded had 80 of water fine Red & Black Sand judged it to Be ye South Eand of Saint Georges Bank So we Run to ye Eastward Got 2 woging & at M had An observe & was in ye Latt of 40 30N So Eands ye 24 hours with our Consort onbord & Plente of finfish Round in Sight

Last edit 4 months ago by iamthemaestro
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Tusday May ye 01th ye fore Part of this 24 hours Attended with fresh winds at west & Clear at 2 of Clock handed our mainsail & Run to ye Eastward under A trisail & Gibb at 4 Cloc Sounded had No Ground Saw Pelente of finfish at 6 Cl'oc hove two ye Later Part of ye 24 attended with ye wind at west & Clear at 10 of Cl'oc made Sail went onbord our Consort & at mad had An observe & found ourselves in ye Latt of 40 20 No & I judg that we are About 20 Leags from ye Bank So Eands the 24 hours Running to ye Eastward &Some finfish in Sight

Wednesday May ye 2th this 24 hours attended with Small winds & Variable. ye fore Part Saw Nothing at 09 Cl'oc hove two ye Later Part at 6 of Clock made Sail & Saw A Ship to ye Nw of us Bound to ye westward Saw Plente of finfish Got one Pingwin & at mdfound our Selvs in ye Latt of 40 30 N So I Conclude this Days Remarks

Thursday May ye 3th ye fore Part of this 24 hours we had fine weather & Small winds at NNE Saw Plente of humbacks & Chas't them But Could Not Strike Saw E A Vessel A trying at 7 of Clock, handed over mainsail & Gibb & Sot ye trisail 2 Reeft foresail & Staisail with her head to ye westward ye Later Part of 24 hours Attended with fresh winds at NBE But fine Looking weather at 9 of C'l Laid About to ye Eastward & Saw Nothing at Mad had An observe & was in ye Latt of 40 50 N & About 15 Leags from St Gerogs Bank So I Conclude this Days Remarks in Good health

Friday May 4th ye fore Part of this 24 hours ATtended with fresh winds at NNW Laid to ye Eastward under A Short Sail Plente of humbacks ye Later Part of 24 hours Attended with winds at WN & fine weather Run to ye ENE Saw Plente of Porpesses Got two of them & at an [...] had An observe & was in ye Latt of 41 13 No So I Conclude this 24 hours Remarks with Plente of Porpesses Round

Last edit 4 months ago by chrisb
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